Ringi Cove Airstrip (AGRC/RIN)

Solomon Islands / Western / Gizo /
 airport, Second World War 1939-1945
Ringi Cove Airstrip is built on the site of a pre-WWII Vila Stanmore coconut plantation which was occupied by Japanese forces in early 1942 and razed. Known as Vila Airfield, the site was envisioned as a large-scale air base to compliment the newly-constructed Munda airfield to the South, but shortly after construction was completed in December 1942 it became apparent that the volcanic soil was too unstable for heavy use.

Serving primarily as a satellite facility to Munda, Vila remained occupied by the Japanese and came under regular air and sea attack through late 1943 as Allied forces moved to invade New Georgia and Arundel Islands. Falling to the Allies in September 1943, Vila's role as an active airfield eneded and much of the cleared lands were used for vegtable farming for the duration of the war.

Renamed the Ringi Cove Airstrip, the former Japanese airfield now operates as a commercial airport primarily serving the nearby logging camp.

ourairports.com/airports/AGRC/

www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/solomons/vila/index.htm...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vila,_Solomon_Islands
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   8°7'33"S   157°8'34"E

Comments

  • This is the Ringi Cove airstrip
This article was last modified 3 years ago